Work-centering vise having toggle-locked pivoted jaw



July 21, 1953 J. R. BRINKLEY 2,645,951

WORK-CENTERING VISE HAVING TOGGLE-LOCKED PIVOTED JAW Filed Feb. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

JAMES R. BRINKLEY ATTORNEYS July 21, 1953 J. R. BRINKLEY 2,645,961

WORK-CENTERING VISE HAVING TOGGLE-LOCKED PIVOTED JAW Filed Feb. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 INVENTOR. .1. 4:- JAMES R.BR|NK| EY mmw ATTQRN EYS Patented July 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT orFics WORK-CENTERING' VISE HAVING TOGGLE- LOCKED PIVOTED J AW James RtBrinkley, Elk Grove, Calif. I Application February 4,1952, Serial No. 269,841

2 Claims. (01. 81-17).

The present invention relates to, improvements in a work-centering vise having togglelocked pivoted jaw. changes, modifications and additions to the wrench shown in my United States Patent No. 2,550,963, dated May 1', 1951, as necessary to pro vide a vise of the character described. 1

Broadly speaking, it is proposedin this invention to provide a vise, which is made for gripping and holding pipes, rods, shafts and the like, without marring the gripped surface, or

crushing the object during the'retention' thereof in the vise.

More specifically, I provide a pair of coacting jaws, which are adapted tobe moved by a lever handle into confronting relation withoneanotherto grip and hold an interposed object.

When swung in one directionthe handle is ar-- ranged to lock the laws in" clamping relation with the gripped object. However, upon swinging the handlein the opposite directiomthegrip of the jaws on the object is released. These operations may be performed with greatrapidity.

Furthermore, I provide a vise having one of its jaws mounted on a pedestal, the latter being anchored in a base for rotation about its longie tudinal axis into various angular positions of adjustment. This pedestal has a relatively large 4 base so as to give firm; supportv to the jawsiofj the vise.

Other objects and advantages will apep'ar' as the specification continues. vThe novel features will beset forth in the claims hereunto appended. i I

Drawi'ngs It embodies structural 2 i 7 within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

. Detaileddescription Referring to the drawings, I provide a pedestal indicated generally at A having a fixedjaw B welded or otherwise secured to the top thereof. coact with the "fixed jaw forgripping and holding an object D therebetween when these jaws 7 are forced toward one another by a lever handle E. I Y Y It will be noted that a pair of links I and hinge pins ll swingably interconnect rear 'portions of the two jaws,with the jaw C beingmov able into separated relation with respect to the I fixed jaw B (seeFigure 1); also, the movable jaw C'may be brought intooverlyingrelation with respect to the fixed jaw (see Figure 3). I

As illustrated in'Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, a pair of front links H are hingedly secured by" p a pin l4 to'a forward'part 'of the movable jaw For a better understanding of the iHVGIItiOIL' reference, should be, had .to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in;

Which Figure 1 is a side elevation view of my vise,

with the movable jaw and handle opened up, and showing an object being supported by th fixed jaw;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the vise, but disclosing, the jaws in closed position to grip and hold the interposed object;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the closed vise, parts being shown in section;

Figures 4 and 5 are detached views of: the jaws and bushing sections, respectively.

While I have shown only the preferred form r of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made C.' The lever handle E, previously mentioned, isdisposed between thesefront links and pivoted thereto by a hinge pin- [5. At the forward end of the fixed jaw-B,'there is provided a lug l6 having a recess l'l formed in its underneath surface; The lever handle is made with a fulcrum projection l8" "arranged toengage with the lugrecess I! for forcing the jaws toward each other when the-handle is swung in a clockwise direction about its hinge pinl5;'that is, into 7 i "the handle in" a counterclockwise: "direction.

Both jaws of thevise are provided with semi cylindrical saddles 22,"-which are adapted to receive interchangeable bus-hing sections F. The latter define confrontinggripping surfaces 23 arranged to be positioned on opposite sides of the gripped object D: It. will'be seen that therear and front links l 01 and l 2; respectively, permit shifting of the movable jaw"j C.1engthwise rela'-. tive-to the fixed jaw ;B for centering. the gripr-x Moreover, a movable jaw C is arranged to v 3 ping surfaces 23 on the object. This is important, since the object is not always perfectly round.

Of course, the bushings may be made in various sizes so as to grip objects of different diameters. For the purpose of removably securing the bushing sections in the jaws of the vise, these jaws have fixed pins 24 adapted for projecting into openings 25 provided in one side of the bushing sections (see Figures 4 and 5). Also, retractable pins 26 are arranged to extend into openings 21 in the opposing sides of the bushing sections.

The retractable pins 26 project from the forward ends of the jaws B-C, and have operating knobs 28 exposed for manual grasping to retract these pins and thereby free the bushing sections for removal from the jaws. Compression springs 28 normally urge the pins 26 inwardly of the jaw saddles 22 so as to extend into the openings 21 of the bushing sections, as shown in Figure 4.

When applying the bushing sections to the saddles of the jaws, they are inclined and introduced thereinto so that the fixed pins 24 will enter the openings 25 first; thereafter, the bushing sections are rotated slightly and moved against the saddles, and then the pins 26 are engaged in the openings 21. The pins 24 and 26 will retain the bushin sections in the jaws, even though the vise may be thrown about rather violently.

Reference is made to Figures 2 and 3, wherein is will be observed that the front links [2 snugly straddlethe lug l6 and the prying end 2| of the lever handle. This arrangement will preclude lateral slippage of the lug and the handle prying end relative to one another upon application of force to the handle for drawing the jaws toward each other.

The front links I2 have sumcient length for the prying end 2| to clear the operating knobs 28 of the retractable pins when the handle is disengaged from the lug l6 and moved past these knobs. The latter are arranged at the front ends of the jaws so as to be convenient for grasping these vises to be adjusted angularly, and clamping bolts are employed for locking these vises in adjusted position. However, considerable strains are placed on these journal and clamping bolts; often, the nuts on the journal bolts work loose. Considerable time is required to make the necessary adjustments.

For the purpose of overcoming these disadvantages and permitting rapid angular adjustments, the lower end of the conical-shaped pedestal A has been made relatively large, and provided with an outwardly-extending circumferential flange 30. The latter is rotatably seated in an annular recess 3i fashioned in a base 32 (see Figure 3). A ring 33 isplaced over the flange for retaining the latter in the base recess. Screws 34, or other suitable means, may be provided for holding this ring upon the base. Bolts 35 may be inserted through openings 36 provided in the base 32 and the ring 33 for anchoring the vise to a bench 31, or other supporting surface (see Figures 1, 2 and 3).

As shown in the drawings, a series of openings 38 are formed in the flange 30 in a circular row arranged concentrically about the longitudinal axis 38 of the pedestal around which the latter turns (see Figure 3). A spring-pressed locking pin 40 is slidably carried in a guide tube 4| mounted on the ring 33. Also, an opening 42 is provided in the base 32 in alignment with this guide tube. A coil spring 43 is arranged in the tube for projecting the locking pin through the particular opening 38 that has been selectively brought into registration with the pin 40, and the latter extends downwardly into the'opening 42 of the base. For retracting the locking pin, and thereby permitting the pedestal to be adjusted angularly, a knob 44 is secured to the upper end of this pin. Thus, the adjustment of the vise may be changed by merely retracting the locking pin; turning the pedestal angularly; and then releasing the pin 40 for dropping into the openings 38 and 42 then aranged in registra tion therewith.

Summary In applying an object D in the vise, the movable jaw C is swung into extended position, as suggested in Figure 1, to permit this object to be placed in the bushing section F of the fixed jaw B. Thereafter, the movable jaw is swung into a position to overlie the fixed jaw, care being exercised to bring the bushing section F of the movable jaw into embracing relation with the object to be gripped.

Now the front links [2 are lowered so as to straddle the lug l6, and then the fulcrum projection I8 is inserted into the recess ll of the lug I6. Thereafter, the lever handle E is swung in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 15 until' its prying end 2| abuts the underneath surface of the lug. At this time, the longitudinal axes I3 of the front links will be disposed rearwardly of the center point 20 of the area of contact between the fulcrum projection 48 and the recess IT, as clearly shown in Figure 3. Thus, the jaws are automatically locked in gripping relation upon the object.

In orderto free the object, it is merely necessary to raise the lever handle and move the latter, together with movable jaw C, into extended position, as suggested in Figure 1. Of course, the handle and movable jaw may be dropped into a position alongside the pedestal A, if desired.

When the mechanic desires to turn the vise' about the longitudinal axis 33 of the pedestal,

the knob 44 is raised so as to withdraw the looking pin 40 from the flange 30. Now the pedestal may be turned through the desired angle, bringing one of the openings 38 into alignment with the guide tube 4|. Upon releasing the knob 44, the spring 43 will project the pin 40 downwardly through an opening 38 disposed therebeneath, with this pin entering the opening 42 of the base 32. This will lock the pedestal in adjusted position.

I claim:

1. In a vise of the character described: upper and lower jaws movable into confronting relation with one another; these jaws respectively having gripping surfaces arranged to be positioned above and below a substantially horizontally-disposed object to be gripped; a supporting pedestal fixed to the lower jaw between front and rear portions of the latter; at least one link swingably interconnecting rear portions of the jaws, with the upper jaw being movable toward and away from the fixed jaw; at least one front link hingedly secured to a forward part of the movable jaw; a lug projecting from the front portion of the fixed jaw, and having a recess fashioned in an underneath side thereof; a lever handle pivoted to the front link, and having a fulcrum projection engageable with the recess of the lug for forcing the jaws toward each other when the handle is swung downwardly about its pivot; the rear and front links being hinged to the jaws for shifting of the movable jaw lengthwise relative to the fixed jaw for centering the gripping surfaces of the jaws on the interposed object; the handle and front link being swingable into a position in which the longitudinal axis of this link will be disposed rearwardly of a center point of an area of contact between the fulcrum projection and the recess in the lug, thereby automatically lockin the jaws in clamping relation upon the gripped object, until the grip thereon is released by swinging the lever handle upwardly.

2. In a vise of the character described; upper and lower jaws movable into confronting relation with one another; these jaws respectively having gripping surfaces arranged to be positioned above and below a substantially horizontally-disposed object to be gripped; a supporting pedestal fixed to the lower jaw between front and rear portions of the latter; at least one link swingably interconnecting rear portions of the jaws, with the upper jaw bein movable toward and away from the fixed jaw; at least One-front link hingedly secured to a forward part of the movable jaw; a lug projecting from the front portion of the fixed jaw, and having an underneath side; a lever handle pivoted to the front link, and provided with a prying end engageable with the underneath side of the lug for forcing the jaws toward each other when the handle is swung downwardly about its pivot; the rear and front links being hinged to the jaws for shifting of the movable jaw lengthwise relative to the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 261,832 Clark Aug. 1, 1882 465,959 Yerdon Dec. 29, 1891 746,705 Hutchins Dec. 15, 1903 1,959,936 Stowell May 22, 1934' 2,448,535 Leveira Sept. 7, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES American Machinist, February 14, 1946, page 142. 

